I’m Pregnant and Can’t Afford the Baby in Massachusetts – What Can I Do?

You just found out you’re pregnant and know you can’t afford it. The bills are piling up, rent is due, and now you’re facing the reality of trying to provide for a baby when you’re already struggling to make ends meet. You’re not alone in feeling this way, and you’re not failing—you’re facing a genuinely difficult situation that requires real solutions.

The good news is that you have options, and some of them come with more financial support than you might realize.

 If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need someone to talk to about what’s actually available to you, you can speak with someone who understands without any pressure or judgment. Whether you’re considering parenting, abortion, or adoption, this guide will walk you through the financial realities of each path and show you what resources are available to you right now in Massachusetts.

I’m Pregnant and Can’t Afford the Baby in Massachusetts—What Now?

When you’re pregnant but can’t afford another baby—or your first—the weight of financial stress can feel crushing. You might be wondering if you can even afford prenatal care, how you’ll pay for delivery, or what happens after the baby arrives.

Here’s what you need to know: You have three main options, and each comes with different levels of financial support.

Parenting: You can access government assistance programs like WIC, SNAP, MassHealth, and TAFDC. These programs help with food, medical care, and cash assistance, but they have income limits and may not cover all your expenses.

Abortion: If you’re early enough in your pregnancy, abortion is one option. In Massachusetts, a first-trimester abortion costs between $500 and $800, though some providers offer sliding-scale fees and insurance may cover part or all of the cost.

Adoption: If you choose adoption, all costs are covered—completely free to you. You won’t pay for medical expenses, legal fees, or counseling. In fact, you may qualify to receive financial assistance during your pregnancy to help with rent, groceries, utilities, and other basic needs.

Financial Help for Pregnant Women in Massachusetts: What’s Available and How to Get It

If you’re pregnant and broke, Massachusetts offers several assistance programs:

MassHealth (Medicaid) provides comprehensive pregnancy coverage for women with household incomes up to 205% of the federal poverty level—about $32,000 annually for a single person. MassHealth covers prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care with little to no out-of-pocket costs. Coverage continues for 12 months after birth. Apply online or call 1-800-841-2900.

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) provides healthy food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support. If you’re already receiving SNAP, Medicaid, or TAFDC, you automatically qualify. WIC provides about $60 per month in food benefits. Call 1-800-942-1007 to apply.

TAFDC (cash assistance) provides monthly payments to pregnant women in their last 120 days of pregnancy. For a family of three with no other income, the maximum monthly benefit is around $712, plus an additional $40 if you pay rent. Benefits are limited to 24 months within any 60-month period. Apply through DTA Connect or call 1-800-249-2007.

SNAP (Food Stamps) helps low-income individuals and families buy groceries. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card monthly.

Federally Qualified Health Centers throughout Massachusetts provide prenatal care on a sliding-scale fee basis. Some visits may be free if you have no income.

These programs can help, but they have eligibility requirements and benefit limits. If you’re trying to figure out what financial assistance is available during an unplanned pregnancy, understanding both government programs and adoption support can help you see the full picture.

Abortion vs. Adoption Costs in Massachusetts: What’s More Affordable—and Why?

A first-trimester abortion in Massachusetts typically costs between $500 and $800 out of pocket. The abortion pill costs around $650 on average, though some providers offer sliding-scale fees. If your pregnancy is further along, costs increase—second-trimester procedures can range from $1,000 to over $2,000.

Many insurance plans, including MassHealth, cover abortion services. Massachusetts also has abortion funds that can help with costs, including Jane Fund of Central Massachusetts, Abortion Fund of Western Massachusetts, Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund, and Tides for Reproductive Change.

You’ll still need to factor in time off work, transportation, and follow-up appointments. If you’re weighing abortion versus adoption, understanding the full financial picture matters.

Adoption is completely free if you’re the birth mother. You don’t pay anything—not for medical care, not for legal fees, not for counseling. You receive free prenatal and delivery care, free counseling, free legal representation, no hospital bills, and financial assistance during pregnancy for rent, utilities, groceries, maternity clothes, and transportation.

The adoptive family—not you—pays all adoption-related costs.

What Kind of Financial Assistance for Adoption Can You Get While Pregnant in Massachusetts?

If you choose adoption, you may qualify for birth mother financial assistance. How much support you receive and what it covers depends on Massachusetts law, but typically includes:

Living expenses to help cover rent or mortgage payments during pregnancy. Utilities for electricity, gas, water, and other essentials. Food and groceries for nutritious meals. Maternity clothing as your body changes. Transportation to and from prenatal appointments. All pregnancy-related medical costs, including prenatal visits, ultrasounds, prescriptions, delivery, and hospital stays. Free professional counseling throughout your pregnancy and after delivery.

This support isn’t a loan—you don’t have to pay it back, even if you change your mind about the adoption. A licensed adoption professional can explain exactly what’s available to you in Massachusetts. When you need help affording basic necessities right now, understanding what adoption financial assistance can provide might change how you view your options.

Why So Many Women in Massachusetts Choose Adoption During Hard Times

Many women who choose adoption during financial hardship do so because they want something more stable for their child than they can currently provide.

Adoptive families undergo financial screening to ensure they can provide for a child’s needs long-term. They have stable housing, reliable income, and often savings for their child’s education. They can afford quality childcare, extracurricular activities, and college savings. Most are married couples who have prepared for years to become parents.

This doesn’t mean parenting is wrong if you’re struggling financially—many incredible parents raise wonderful children on tight budgets. But adoption offers something different, and for many women facing economic hardship, that difference matters.

You can also choose open adoption, which allows you to maintain contact with your child and the adoptive family through letters, photos, phone calls, or visits.

How Adoption Works if You’re Not Ready to Parent

If you’re considering adoption, here’s what the process looks like:

Contact a licensed adoption agency. You’ll speak with an adoption specialist who can answer your questions. This conversation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation.

Create your adoption plan that reflects your wishes. You’ll decide what type of adoption you want and what qualities matter most to you in an adoptive family. Understanding when you can place a child for adoption helps you know your timeline.

Choose the adoptive family. You’ll review profiles and choose the one that feels right. You can meet the family in person, talk on the phone, or exchange letters and photos.

Receive support during pregnancy. Once you’ve chosen a family, you can begin receiving financial assistance and emotional support. Your medical expenses will be covered, and you’ll have access to counseling.

Birth and hospital stay. You decide who’s present and how involved the adoptive family will be. You’re not legally obligated to place your baby for adoption until you sign consent paperwork after delivery.

Post-placement support. You’ll continue to receive counseling support. If you’ve chosen open adoption, you’ll begin receiving updates from the adoptive family.

Will I Regret Choosing Adoption Because I Couldn’t Afford to Parent?

This is one of the most painful questions women ask, and it deserves an honest answer.

Grief is real. Most birth mothers experience deep sadness, loss, and mourning after placing a child for adoption. This grief doesn’t mean you made the wrong choice—it means you loved your child. Grief and love coexist.

Many women wonder “what if” at different points in their lives. What if you’d been in a better financial position? What if you’d had more support? These questions are normal.

But most birth mothers, even years later, find peace in knowing their child is loved, safe, and thriving. They see their children growing up with opportunities—good schools, stable homes, experiences—that they couldn’t have provided at that time.

Choosing adoption because of financial hardship isn’t a moral failure. It’s an act of love. Will you feel sadness? Probably. Will you sometimes wish circumstances had been different? Most likely. But regret and grief aren’t the same thing.

Professional counseling throughout the process can help you work through these complex emotions.

Pregnant and Can’t Afford It? Help Is Available in Massachusetts

You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to make this decision under crushing financial pressure.

If you’re wondering, “I’m pregnant and can’t afford the baby—what do I do next?” the first step is reaching out. You can speak confidentially with an adoption professional who understands the financial realities you’re facing and can explain exactly what assistance is available.

You’ll get honest answers about what adoption financial assistance covers in Massachusetts, how quickly support can begin, and what the process looks like. There’s no pressure, no judgment, and no obligation.

Financial hardship doesn’t make you a bad mother. It makes you human. What matters now is that you have accurate information about your options so you can choose the path that feels right—even when none of the paths feel easy.

You have options. You have support. And whatever you decide, you don’t have to face this alone.